Cool As Ice – Lincoln Mark VIII
The baleens of the Mark VIII.
Let me tell you, the iPhone I use for most of my sightings is not a cold-weather appliance. At -20°C with some wind chill added, using the touch screen was especially painful. Don’t get me wrong, the phone worked impeccably – it’s just that I almost froze my fingers off trying to snap these pics of this good-looking pre-facelift Lincoln Mark VIII.
As my fingers got progressively more useless, it was time to head back into the car and let them warm up between the heated seat and my bottom end; otherwise typing this post would’ve been impossible and I would’ve had to dictate it. Hmm…
I first saw this mid-’90s Linc in the relative comfort of a parking garage. Unfortunately, it was not parked under the best lighting and the photos I got weren’t all post-worthy. So, when I saw it roll into this parking place (coincidentally the same where I saw the gold 520i E28), I had to brave the weather conditions and snap away.
I wonder what kind of gas mileage the 280-hp Modular 4.6-litre V8 gets in this cold. But of course, if you roll in a Lincoln here, fuel bills are the last thing on your mind. I’m also thinking how the air suspension is doing, but some of the cars advertised have had the setup converted into steel springs and it might also be the case here.
Looks-wise, I definitely prefer the cetacean Lincoln to its relatives, the MN12 Thunderbird and Cougar. There’s always been something about the Superbird Thunderbird’s design, especially around the C-pillar and rear wheelarches that doesn’t quite gel – but it’s definitely better than the Cougar that somehow appears to wear shoulder pads. But I’m not here to mock the two but praise the Linc; and its flowing personal luxury car lines just seem to lend it presence the others can’t reach.
Add a distinctively better interior and it’s head and shoulders above the rest.
The two-level cross-spoke wheels look great. Meanwhile, in the reflection I look elf-like.
In the rear, the Geordi-like tail light bar was heavily frosted over. The hump on the trunklid is of acquired taste, but bearable. Perhaps the heritage justifies it.
These Lincolns weren’t sold here new, so it’s a later private import. One possibility is it’s Swiss, as a large amount of US cars here are brought used from there.
In my opinion, the dark turquoise is the best colour for the Lincoln, well complimented by the chrome.
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+1 for the meat stylus!
Excellent and totally appropriate use of "cetacean" as an adjective. +1
Does Finland require amber rear turn signals like a lot of the world? I see this car has had side repeaters added on, but I'm not sure if those add on rear lights are turn signals, rear fog lights, or what.
Side repeaters are required. I think the rear bumper has had extra reflectors mounted, but a rear foglight is at least a requirement – you see a lot of US cars with cheap rear fogs screwed on if they did not originally come with ones.
I'm trying here to figure out if there is one new car available in Europe that has visible amber turn signals and I suspect the right answer is NO. Some half moped-half car thingies maybe, but real cars? All have moved on, to cleaner look.
I suppose laws which govern old car import have also been updated and that PITA job of adding additional amber lights has been eliminated. When importing car from US or NA one still maybe has to put amber bulbs into reversing light sockets and connect these to turn signals but that can also depend where in europe car will be registered.
This Lincoln is probably from the era when Euro-models of American cars still had mandatory amber turn signals.
Actually, from what I've seen in traveling and looking at new cars, all countries except for north american ones, require a rear indicator to be amber.
Many makers are now shipping cars with red, but still dedicated to turn indicator only bulbs, lenses to the US, which is just stupid. Even the DOT claims amber is a good idea. How often does this happen?
For example, I know you can get amber rear LED's tail light housings for the 2005-2011 Cadillac STS, but they're a fortune, when you can find them.
BTW, rear amber turn indicators have to be one of the better thought out regulations. It's a different bulb, and it does not blend into a sea of red.
A 2011 Passat, for example. In the US, the outer clear part does nothing. The inner part is the reversing light.
Everywhere else, amber turn indicator.
<img src="https://s-hphotos-iad1.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/297499_863809701515_24408963_39100050_1221956615_n.jpg" width="500">
What I was talking about was blinker which, when not working, is amber/orange colored. All blinkers certainly when working are orange but outer glass or plastic is not of that color anymore. Lincoln above has clearly visible amber colored turn signals. New cars don't have those.
I understand what you mean, now.
I think there are still a few, though not as many as there used to be.
I didn't realize I had spawned this conversation, heh. But I was under the same impression as you – every other country seems to require amber rear signals.
I'm not sure what the current regs are, but I know in Australia all cars must have amber rear signals, which means if you import an American car with reds, you need to add an additional light or convert the reverse light as previously mentioned.
"Some half moped-half car thingies maybe, but real cars?"
Hey! Many of us believe those are also real cars!
Well, some of us believe this.
Um, okay, just me. I am nonetheless prepared to believe it on everyone else's behalf.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/9z6kq.jpg" alt="" title="Hosted by imgur.com" />
…I was actually thinking of my new Lyman Electric Quad, but either way you're starting to scare me.
(Not that this stopped me from grabbing the full-resolution version, mind you.)
Idle hands lead to questionable photshoppery. That's how the saying goes, right?
The way I remember it going down was that 1998 was the cutoff year after which the cars had to have EU approved lighting. Older cars could get a separate permit from the DOT and things like red turn signals weren't a problem as long as you complied with the fog lamp and side repeater requirements.
I believe the only way to weasel something like a 98-2002 Trans Am into the country is if you are bringing it with you when you move in, you can beg and plead for a special exemption. Though you'll still have to butcher the original lighting somewhat.
Also, dig the Mitsubishi Magna / Galant Sigma in the background. That's a rare bird.
Me thinks that's Antti's car!
Heh yeah, that's my 1990 Sapporo.
The diversity of cars in your moderate-sized town near the Arctic Circle never ceases to amaze me.
There's always a couple of eccentrics in every town, most of the "normal" folk drive gray Corollas. Or VW Golfs if they don't like Japanese cars.
My aunt in Florida used to rock an Isetta, in the fifties. So that should smooth out the curve a little.
I'm still 400 km:s away from the Arctic Circle
I love seeing giant Detroit iron in Scandinavia. I remember that my friend's grandfather had a maroon 5th Avenue in Oslo, and though already junk in the US, it looked like (a tiny bit) a rolls among the little eurocars. He said, "There are only two of these in Norway– mine… and the King's!" (edit, I feel like I've told that anecdote here once long ago. Might've been on [red.]. Sorry if you've heard this one before.)
The Mark VIII is a decidedly more regal car from the get go. I've always liked them, as I liked the Mark VII LSC and the first Aurora and Bill Porter Riviera from GM. Shameless grand cruisers. Somehow the 90s Cadillacs can't compete, I guess because they were trying to look a little Euro. That said, of these I would only ever consider owning a Mk VII or a Riv, simply because I can imagine keeping up with the ownership costs on those more than their delicate cylon-browed brethren.
Too bad it's not an LSC. Those things are sweet. But from what I've read at places like FlatRateTech.com, the air suspension system is an absolute nightmare to work on.
Yes they are. Those sort of issues have kept me from picking up a used LSC. Ford doesn't service them anymore and parts are becoming scarce. In fact, there are kits now to retrofit the MN12 Thunderbird and Cougar suspension parts onto the Mark VIII.
That makes sense. Cadillacs in the late '50s could be had with air suspension, but most of them ended up being converted to conventional coils because of the problems with their system.
Huh. The Mark VII systems aren't that bad, and thanks to Arnott they can be fixed relatively inexpensively, or converted to conventional coils are reasonable cost. I didn't know the Mark VIIIs were worse.
I keep hearing two stories on this subject too. Half the people say it's an expensive nightmare of systeme hydraulique proportions, and the other half says quit your whining, it's just a couple of cheap seals. I bet Sajeev Mehta would know…
This is Sajeev. If you can't afford $1000 for 4 new rubber bags and a compressor on a 15+ year old air suspension system, buy a Tbird instead. Ford Air suspension systems are stupid easy and super cheap, but that's only relative to other air setups.
Don't believe me? Price an air spring for an LS400 or anything from Europe. It's all relative, son.
Miracle of the internets, ask and you shall receive… Thanks! That's pretty much what I thought. Anything more exotic than just plain old MacPhersons up front and shocks in the back and $1K goes by quickly, i.e. set of struts and self-leveling Nivomats and you're almost there.
I believe you, and I still looked it up… ouch!
I saw the title and I thought this was going to be that gray one that used to be parked on the west side of highway E4 somewhere near Viitasaari. I remember looking for it every time I was going to Jyväskylä.
I'm looking for the ad touting how the car lowers itself at speed but found this.[youtube KenhTEuh1dM&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL22D9F78C235FB2FD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KenhTEuh1dM&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL22D9F78C235FB2FD youtube]
Here it is the ad I've been looking for. $450/mo lease in 1994 is pricy! [youtube gKxIR4ajgVg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKxIR4ajgVg youtube]
If it does as well as my '96 4.6L (SOHC, 205HP) T-bird, I'd expect the city mileage to be all of 12 MPG at that temperature.
Looking back on the MN12/FN10 triplets now, I honestly like the looks of the lower-line cars better, especially the '89-'93 T-bird and Cougar. My '96 is technically a better car than its earlier kin, but I wish Ford hadn't thrown all the mid-90's blobbiness at it for the last refresh.
So Quagmire walks into a bar…
Sister used to drive a '97 Continental. Even if it was FWD and on an entirely different platform, it was the same idea – the RWD-ness of this car makes no difference, as nobody's trying to use a Mk VIII as a performance car in anything but a straight line. The Conti was fast, comfortable, quiet, power/computerized everything, and attracted zero attention. What a good car that was, 19mpg aside.